Personnel

ANTHELION HELICOPTERS FOUNDER AND CEO

Alex became a helicopter pilot in 2001 upon getting thoroughly addicted during his first helicopter demo flight at the Torrance Airport in California. However, even before that first flight, the sight of another student doing something that looked so cool and yet just as difficult sparked his desire to learn.

Alex was very lucky to have an inspirational helicopter pilot instructor at the time that helped him make his dream become a reality. Alex’s instructor cemented his passion for helicopters and love for the open skies. He was set on becoming a helicopter pilot Los Angeles, CA.

After a few years of working for the British Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defense Alex came back to the United States in 2007 to continue his career and become a helicopter pilot Los Angeles, CA. Even during the time of working as a successful Flight Instructor, Utility Pilot, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) pilot Alex has always had the dream of starting his own helicopter flight training company.

Alex’s chance came when he got together with Nina, Chief Pilot, to create Anthelion Helicopters. A helicopter company that focuses on helicopter flight training lessons, helicopter tours, and aerial photography.

Alex surrounded himself with a great team of people that share the same core values of safety, integrity, passion, and love for the entire business experience. Being half of the founding team for Anthelion Helicopters, Alex hopes that he will be able to develop and inspire the same love and passion for helicopters in his students as the one he has for it himself.

CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF PILOT

After graduating from college and a brief career in the Law Enforcement. Nina realized that she must pursue her true desire of becoming a helicopter flight school instructor.

Nina first began flying helicopters in 2003 and instantly fell in love with it. The freedom of the skies and the versatile maneuvers of the helicopters inspired her to continue on her journey. Although, rated in airplanes as well, Nina knew that helicopters are her true passion.

Nina has experience with a handful of helicopters in a variety of commercial positions; from Flight School Instruction to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to Chief Piloting to starting a charter certificate. She has always wanted to build something from the ground up and to be a part of something larger than herself. So now she finds herself in Long Beach, CA surrounded by a great team that shares the same love and passion for flying.

As a Chief Pilot, Nina is excited to bring a helicopter training school to the Long Beach area. Along with her co-founder Alex and the team, she is thrilled to develop and nurture the same love for the skies in others, as she has realized in herself.

LAUREN / Assistant Chief Flight Instructor

While growing up, Lauren attended countless air shows with her family and friends. It was during this time that Lauren first caught the aviation bug. She found herself being completely mesmerized by the sky acrobatics of these professional pilots, and she wanted to learn to mimic them.

However, Lauren did not truly fall in love with helicopters and flying until she took her first helicopter demo flight. This was the moment when her fascination with aviation was brought to life. Her first experience of being behind the helicopter’s controls made her realize that she must become a helicopter pilot and a helicopter training instructor in the very near future.

Lauren completed all of her helicopter training in the beautiful Southern California. Every day she feels blessed and thankful to be a part of something as special as Anthelion Helicopters.

Now that Lauren is a certified helicopter school pilot she welcomes and relishes in every opportunity she has to be able to teach her students not only the safety of flying, but also the passion and love for it. She hopes that her students leave her with the same excitement as she had when she did her first helicopter demo flight.

TRAVIS / Certified Flight Instructor (CFI)

Travis has been passionate about aviation his entire life and dreamed of becoming a pilot since he was 6 years old. After graduating from high school Travis enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as a helicopter avionics electrician. As he worked on the massive CH-53E Super Stallion Helicopters at MCAS Miramar in San Diego, CA his passion for helicopter began to grow.

After being Medically Retired from the military in 2004, Travis went to work at the Naval Aircraft Depot as an Electronic Integrated Systems Mechanic, performing overhauls on the same CH-53E he worked on in the military. He later received his Ground Test Pilot certification while gaining experience working on the UH-1N Huey, AH-1W Cobra, CH-46E Sea Knight and AV-8B Harrier aircraft.

However, being a mechanic and ground test pilot wasn’t enough for Travis. His desire to fly inspired him to begin his flight training in 2006. He received his Commercial Flight License in 2007.

The CFI opened the door for Travis to share his knowledge, experience, and passion with his students in order to help them progress and realize their own dreams of flying. Travis is excited for the opportunity be a part of the Anthelion Helicopters team and he enjoys every day that he gets to provide helicopter flight training to new pupils.

ZEUS / Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII)

Zeus discovered his passion for aviation at a very young age. It came after he attended an airshow with his family. Since that moment he has sought to attend a helicopter pilot school Los Angeles, CA to work towards his dream of becoming a certified helicopter pilot.

Zeus was raised in London, England and moved to Southern California at the age of 14. Since earning his Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII), Zeus has signed off over 15 students for various certificates and ratings.

In addition to being an aviation enthusiast, Zeus is committed to providing the same quality of high level flight instruction as he had the privilege of receiving during his time in helicopter pilot school Los Angeles, CA.

BRENNAN / Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII)

Brennan, grew up in southern Idaho. After high school I moved to Cairns, Queensland in far north Australia to become a dive instructor. During a 3 day trip out on the Great Barrier Reef a passenger was injured and had to be life flighted from the ship as we were 70 miles offshore. From that moment on I realized that’s what I wanted to do.

Upon moving home I started looking for flight schools close to home and ended up going to school in Portland, OR. It was an awesome and challenging experience; learning to fly around the Pacific NW. After obtaining my CFII I moved out to Duluth, Minnesota to start my career as a professional pilot. While training students and flying tours was my main focus. I also became the SMS officer making sure day to day operations were conducted safely. After a year in the frigid north I had the opportunity to work for Anthelion Helicopters and I haven’t looked back.

TOM / Certified Flight Instructor Instrument

Tom is originally from England and moved over to the US to pursue his dream of being a helicopter pilot when he was 21.

Being born in to an aviation family (his Dad is an airline captain in Europe), he took an early interest in flying but wanted to try something different – flying helicopters was the way forward for him.

After spending time in both Florida and Oregon, he moved to Southern California and hasn’t looked back.

Although he has his airplane license and aerobatic experience back in Europe, Tom knows his real passion is for helicopters and isn’t planning on returning to planes any time soon!